1. Prevention is better than cure.

Everything you consume has an effect on your body in an advantageous way or not depending on what it is you are eating.

Eating lots of processed, junk food is only going to cause you digestive complaints, headaches and poor skin to name a few!

If you feed your body plenty of whole, plant foods are giving your body the chance to feel full of energy and vitality.

2. The brighter the better.

The brighter fruit of vegetable is the more flavonoids they contain.

These are plant chemicals that help get our digestive healthy.

Some of the best to include are Brussel sprouts, peppers and sweet potatoes.

3. Get a decent night’s sleep (8 hours).

A relationship has been found between lack of sleep and digestive issues such as IBS and ulcers so it is really important to make sure you are getting enough of it!

Switch off digital equipment at least on hour before bed, make lists to consolidate all your thoughts so you can have a restful sleep.

Having a full 8 hours allows your body time to repair and heal cells especially the immune system.

4. Watch your alcohol indake

Alcohol is an irritant to the gut lining and can cause heartburn, acid reflux and diarrhoea.

It also depletes the beneficial bacteria in your gut when consumed on a regular basis.

The worst offender for most people is white wine as it is so acidic.

If you still want to enjoy alcohol every now and again make sure you drink it with food, go for red wine as it as some health benefits too and don’t exceed a couple of glasses, unless you want to suffer the next day.

5. Are you getting enough fibre?

There are two types; soluble and insoluble.

Soluble fibre slows digestion, prevents blood sugar spiking and they can be found in oats, beans, peas, flaxseeds, apples and berries whereas insoluble fibre helps move food through the digestive tracts which helps to avoid constipation and can be found in nuts, whole-wheat, wholegrains, seeds, rice.

6. Buy colourful fruit and vegetables.

The brighter the fruit or vegetable, the more flavonoids they contain.

They are potent antioxidants thus promotors of optimal health. Some of the best fruit and vegetables to include are Brussel sprouts, sweet potatoes, blueberries and peppers.

7. Avoid artificial sweeteners.

They can be detrimental in particular to digestive health because they don’t get digested properly and then bacteria feed on them in the gut.

The worst offenders are sorbitol and mannitol which can be found in chewing gum, soft drinks and some processed foods including biscuits and cakes.

8. Feed your friendly bacteria.

Gut health hinges on the state of the gut microbiome (beneficial bacteria).

To ensure that your bacteria is balance it is important to include probiotic foods as part of a healthy diet; live yoghurt, sauerkraut, kimchi and kefir are all wonderful sources of beneficial bacteria to help your gut flora flourish and support your digestive system.